The new school year presents media opportunities for students of all ages to get engaged at the CAPS Media Center. ECTV is back for a third season. Every week El Camino High School students take over the CAPS Media Center to produce their own television series under the ECTV banner. Students in the CAPS Media/El Camino internship program master the skills and art of video production and digital storytelling. Principal Cheryl Burns expressed her excitement at the start of the new year. She feels strongly that ECTV provides her students with real world experience and has found this to be a life changing program for many. The ECTV productions are completely written, storyboarded, produced, staged, recorded, directed, hosted and edited by the El Camino team members. In the first two seasons ECTV has received local and national awards including Best Informational Talk Show Series in the Student category at the National Alliance for Community Media conference. ECTV programs air on CAPS TV (Channel 15). All of the ECTV programs are available on the CAPS Media website at capsmedia.org/videos.

The City of Ventura and VUSD’s popular Mayor For A Moment program also returns with a new season of stories on outstanding local students. Every month CAPS Media profiles an outstanding 5th grader recognized by the Ventura City Council and the VUSD School Board. The Mayor For A Moment videos premiere at City Council meetings as an introduction to the young mayor’s big moment at City Hall, and a second, more complete video is shown later at a VUSD Board meeting. A compilation program of last school year’s honorees is airing on CAPS Media and can be reviewed online at capsmedia.org/videos.

September is also a great time for community members to become CAPS Media Member/Producers. CAPS Media offers new member orientation meetings on the first Thursday of every month. HD videography/camera classes are held on the 2nd Thursday, and Final Cut postproduction editing classes are on the 3rd Thursday. CAPS Radio (KPPQ FM 104.1) holds training classes on the 4th week – Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. All classes begin at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road. Once trained member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their story and then book postproduction editing suites to craft the story they want to tell.

CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) is hosting an open house and community information discussion on Wednesday October 4th at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center at 65 Day Road. Everyone interested in community radio is invited to tour the center and join the exchange of programming ideas and direction for the radio station.

Go to capsmedia.org to see a programming schedule, search the archives for past programs, get general info about membership and classes. CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in the city of Ventura is eligible to become a Member/Producer. Annual fees are only $25 for an individual and $75 for a non-profit organization. CAPS Radio DJs require an additional annual fee of $50. For complete information go to capsmedia.org.

The Ventura County Fair is proud to report another successful Fair. Celebrating the diverse traditions of Ventura County, the 142nd edition, “Rooted in Tradition” closed with success in all categories. Visitors came from near and far to enjoy the 12-day run, August 2 through August 13.

The Ventura County Fair’s mission is to preserve, promote, and showcase agriculture and the traditions of Ventura County, this was accomplished with competitive livestock and horse shows, agricultural exhibits and baking contests.

Fairgoers were greeted with an abundance of attractions, which included Leroy and Lee’s Flea Circus, Star Child Stilt Circus, who delighted young and old as they strolled high above the Fair, and Slim and Curly, the wise cracking cowboys who made people laugh everywhere they went. Adding to the attraction were exciting new carnival rides, including the Olympic Bobsled Roller Coaster and the delightful Happy Swing. Tasty new food offerings like Deep Fried Pineapple and Belgian Waffles on a Stick pleased the taste for new summer treats while the mini donuts and turkey legs satisfied the cravings of Fairgoers.

Total Attendance for 2017 was 305,746; off from 2016’s record attendance of 332,262.

“We do everything we can to bring Ventura County a better Fair every year,” said CEO Barbara Quaid, sharing the Fair’s winning formula; “For us the focus is not about the numbers of people coming through the gates, but about the quality of the experience our guests have at the Fair. We measure our success by the number of smiles on the faces of the Fairgoers. We are committed to offering a clean, safe and fun experience that people will remember forever.”

As is the case every year, overall success would not be possible without the tremendous support of the sponsors and the community. While the gates have closed on the 2017 Ventura County Fair, planning is already underway for the 2018 Fair.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds consists of a 62.5-acre parcel and operates as a multi-purpose, multi-functional, year-round facility accommodating a variety of events. Regarded as a premier rental facility, the Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center attracts some of the most popular shows and attractions in the county throughout the year, including livestock shows, dog shows, horse shows, home and recreation shows, concerts, dances, business expos, weddings, quinceañeras and receptions, motorcycle and automobile shows, camping groups, swap meets and much more.

The Ventura County Fair entertained thousands of guests and participants. It employs up to 700 seasonal staff during the annual 12-day event. With annual attendance of over 300,000 visitors to the Fair, the communities throughout Ventura County share in the economic vitality derived from the Ventura County Fair. The Fair brings economic, social, educational, and cultural resources and provides lasting impressions on Fairgoers. While agriculture is the heart of the Fair, it’s the diverse entertainment that typically draws Fairgoers through the gates. Known for free top name concerts, we take pride in the overall dynamics and diversity of the entertainment, the esthetics and cleanliness of the grounds, as well as the vast educational and innovative exhibits that are showcased throughout the Fair each year.

Bilbo’s hobbit hole from the fantasy novel The Hobbit.

by Karen Helen Szatkowski

Often a favorite venue of fairgoers, the 2017 Ventura County Fair Floriculture Display met the challenge of prior years and has been an educational powerhouse as well. Propagating, growing and maintaining the huge variety of decorative plants that we, here in paradise, can enjoy throughout most of the year.

I took special note of an award winner that brought to life the setting of Bilbo’s hobbit hole from the fantasy novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. This garden was put together by the congregants of the Calvary Chapel Ojai Valley Church. Pastor Nelson stated that this effort reproduced a setting the church had built for member children that is enjoyed by all.

It is difficult to choose between the gardens and assign the level of premiums for each division. Everyone is a winner. That is accomplished by the Floriculture Department of the Ventura County Fair Superintendent, Barbara Schneider and Assistant Superintendent, Sue Diller. These women have been on this mission and carried this responsibility for decades.

There are 61 divisions spread over such items as potted plants; arrangements; collections, roses and dish gardens. They range from school exhibitors to plant clubs. Commercial entities have their own divisions, and there is also an entire set of divisions for junior entries. One division is even assigned for individual amateurs and another for condo gardens.

Barbara and Sue stated, “For those Ventura County people that enjoy mucking around in potting soil, fertilizer, bug spray and the like in order to admire the beauty in nature, it is highly recommended that you should bring it to the Fair!”

For further information visit https://www.venturacountyfair. org/floriculture/

Gold Coast Concert Chorus under the direction of Elizabeth Helms invites you to sing for the 2017-2018 30th Anniversary Season. Rehearsals for their holiday concert, Cheers! A Holiday Celebration, begin Monday September 11th at 7pm. Registration begins at 5:45 pm. Rehearsals will take place at Ventura Continuing Education Center, 5200 Valentine Road, in the Ron Halt Community Room (back parking lot). No audition is required to participate in GCCC. Interested singers may register September 11th, 18th or 25th and are financially responsible for registration fee, music, attire and active participation in the rehearsals and performances. This concert will be performed December 8th & 9th, 2017. For more information www.goldcoastchorus.org.

Enrollment is now open for fall acting classes at Rubicon Theatre Company for adults and children ages 5 and older. Classes will be taught by Rubicon Associate Artistic Director Brian McDonald, an award-winning professional actor and director and graduate of Boston Conservatory, whose credits include national tours and work with prestigious regional theatre companies including Denver Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, McCoy-Rigby at La Mirada, Musical Theatre Guild at Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center, and Rubicon. A previous recipient of the City of Ventura’s Mayor’s Arts Award for Emerging Artist, McDonald heads Rubicon’s Education and Outreach programs and has directed numerous summer and main stage productions.

These process-oriented programs consist of vocal, physical and mental exercises; character analysis and development; scene study; theatre games, improvisation and audition technique. Classes provide opportunities for participants to think creatively and open themselves to new ideas and modes of expression. Each class culminates with a final presentation of the students’ work for family and friends.

Says McDonald, “We limit our class size in order to provide individual attention a nurturing environment where participants are able to participate and grow at their own pace.”

Costs range from $180-$240. Class descriptions, dates and prices ,with further details online under Education on the Rubicon website: www.rubicontheatre.org.

Save the dates!! September 9th and 10th from 10am-5pm.

It is the only festival of its kind in Southern California – and one of three on the west coast. With handmade sea glass jewelry and ocean-themed art, the Santa Barbara Sea Glass & Ocean Arts Festival features work created by dozens of talented artists from all across the country, bringing thousands of sea glass and beach enthusiasts to the renowned coastal jewel of Santa Barbara, California.

You can learn from three lecturers this year! These lectures are free with your SBSGOA Festival entry fee which is still only $5.00 per day or $9.00 for both days. Early bird shopping starts at 9am and is $15.00 for entry. Make it a day. Come early to shop, stay for the education!!

Richard LaMotte, Mary McCarthy, and Josie Iselin are all lined up to give us lots of sea glass and ocean related information on both days.

Richard LaMotte is the author of the award-winning book, Pure SEA GLASS and a recent sequel titled The Lure of Sea Glass. Richard will lecture at the festival on the topic: “Sea Glass Identification and Dating”.

Mary McCarthy is a bestselling author and founder of SeaCrate ocean-themed subscription-box service. As a lifelong journalist, she has written for Katie Couric and has appeared on The Today Show, Huffington Post Live and ABC TV news.

Mary McCarthy will be lecturing both days, and her topics are : “Beachcombing and History at Dead Horse Bay” This lecture explores ways to tell the differences between genuine sea, fake, and seeded sea glass, including an exhibit of sample fakes.

Josie Iselin is the photographer, author and designer of seven books on forms in nature and particularly what we find at the beach. These titles include Beach: A Book of Treasure, Sea Glass Hearts and An Ocean Garden.

Josie will be lecturing both days on: “Seaweed Sea Otters, Urchins and Kelp:The Interconnectedness of Life in Our California Coastal Waters”.

To avoid the lines and get your tickets online https://www.santabarbaraseaglassandoceanartsfestival.com/

A vigil was held in Ventura’s Mission Park Sunday evening, August 13th, in memory of three people who died and the 19 others who were injured during recent White Supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. The vigil also condemned the violence and intolerance expressed by the”Unite The Right” activists.

John Golson, who swiftly organized the demonstration in Ventura, said “We must stand, we dare not be silent when hatred acts in bold disregard of decency and compassion.”

Participants at the event agreed. They were highly motivated to stand together in condemnation of the reprehensible violence, displays of Nazi and Confederate flags, the shouts against Jews, blacks, and gay people, and the raised-arm Nazi salutes that had been featured days earlier at the “Unite the Right” demonstration in Charlottesville.

In Ventura, the “Stand with Charlottesville” rally attracted nearly two hundred people who held candles and signs calling for peace and equal justice in the wake of the Charlottesville tragedy. Many voiced disgust at the fact that Americans had not already completely abandoned the deplorable agenda of such hate-based groups.

Passers-by were very supportive, many honking their agreement and waving to the demonstrators. Musicians played and speakers called for peace and understanding among all Americans. Participants were invited to come up and share their thoughts or prayers about the recent events.

Nationally, hundreds of similar rallies took place. Locally, Ventura was not alone — Camarillo, Ojai, and Thousand Oaks also held vigils —all with the purpose of declaring that hate, racial and religious intolerance, and violence has no place in our county or in our nation.